Richmond Magazine’s annual Best/Worst of Richmond has been on the newstands for a little bit and I finally got around to getting a copy.  Nice to see the following H&H representatives getting some kudos from fellow Richmonders.

• Kathy Graziano was voted Future Mayor and tied for first as Best Local Public Servant.
• Barry Bless was a Staff Pick by Harry Kollatz Jr. for “making Richmond a happier place”.  Accordion artist extraordinaire, Bless is the driving force behind Happy Lucky Combo, which is just one of his many musical efforts.
• Mexico took Best Mexican restaurant. Joe’s Inn was Best Neighborhood Restaurant with O’Toole’s coming in second.
• Plaza Bowl was voted Best Bowling Alley.
• Legend Brewing came in 2nd for Best Outdoor View losing justifiably to The Boathouse. Why aren’t there more restaurants or bars with river views?
• Blanchard’s Coffee while not directly a winner is the coffee served at The Best Local Coffee, Ellwoods Cafe and Crossroads was 2nd.
• Lastly, I am proud to say that Hills and Heights placed second in the Neighborhood Blog Category.

Thanks to all those that voted for our little blog and congrats to other local winners. Buy the magazine to check out some more Southbank & Southside winners that I didn’t cover, such as chains, Stony Point Fashion Park, Martin’s/Ukrop’s and far Southside.

Happy Lucky Combo released a new CD this week “Carnival of Sound” and the blog Kozmicdogz Breaks Loose purchased a CD recently.

Best $5 I’ve Spent In Quite A While!

I traveled down Forest Hill Avenue today and purchased a copy of “Carnival of Sound” The Happy Luck Combo’s new cd. Well worth the price of admission. Happy Luck Combo is Pippin Barnett, drums; Barry Bless, accordion; and Dave Yohe, bass.

If you have had a chance to catch one of their many free shows at O’Toole’s or Ellwoods Coffee Shop you know that band throws themselves into the music and it shows. Be warned though, if you don’t like accordion this music isn’t for you. The CD is available at Crossroads Coffee.

image swiped from the Luminhaus website

P.S. – Happy Lucky Combo has this week off from O’Toole’s but will be back 2/10.

Our long drought of no accordion music is over. From the Happy Lucky Communique:

The Happy Lucky Combo plays at O’Toole’s this Wednesday, January 13, from 8:00 till 10:30 PM. We have a busy season planned with another Yiddish Cabaret coming up and a Valentines’ Eve concert. But this Wednesday we’re going to start out slow, try out some new tunes, and drink some Legend Brown Ale. You know… Southside Style.

The Happy Lucky Combo will be celebrating Hanaramakwanzamas Season with a Year’s End Party this Wednesday Dec. 16 @ O’Toole’s from 8:00 – 10:30 PM. Admission is FREE. There will be lots of musical guests including, Emily Avesian, baritone sax, Bob Jacobs accordion, Marcy Horwitz accordion (count ‘em), Miles Barnett violin, Isadora and Odessa Bless vocals… it is even rumored that we may have a visit from John Winn clarinet and Daniel Clark melodian. (All the text above and the image were snagged from the Happy Lucky Communique. It is going to be a great time and I’ll be there.)

So far the auction to raise funds for Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts has raised over $6,000 but I can’t believe that nobody has bid to have Happy Lucky Combo to perform at their house. Come on people this band is great fun and your party would be the talk of the town. They can be available during the holidays or you can save the foot tapping for spring/summer.  Bid on HLC here.

While on the subject of Patrick Henry don’t forget that they will be hosting an open house at 8 p.m. tonight to distribute copies of the student application, discuss the school’s curriculum and answer parent’s questions.  Pick up an application and hear more about our curriculum at the PHSSA building, 3411 Semmes Avenue. 

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Happy Lucky Combo is back at O’Toole’s this Wednesday, October 28, 8 – 10:30 PM. This week special guest Carter Blough on the bass fiddle!

Not only will O’Toole’s be blessed with Bless and the rest of the Happy Lucky gang but there are rumblings of even more accordion fun. From the Happy Lucky Communique we hear;

A while back Pippin and I made a vow to play with people who are better than we are. So in that spirit, Bob Jacobs will join us this Wednesday at O’Toole’s. Bob plays locally with Gypsy Roots and has had a long and fruitful accordion career. My favorite story is when he played for Lawrence Welk at a book signing.

That’s right two accordions for the price of none. I say none because no cover charge means free music so get out there. Emily Avesian, baritone sax, may also join the gang but that is still in the rumor stage.

The Happy Lucky Combo plays this week, Wednesday, June 24 at O’Toole’s. Also featuring fellow Southsider John Winn and Emily Avesian.

Bad news accordian fans, The Happy Lucky Combo will not be performing at O’Toole’s this evening. I’m not sure how well I can play my weekly game of chess without the soothing sounds of klezmer music!

Two musical guests Jonathan Greenberg on trumpet and John Winn on clarinet. As always the music starts around 8:00 at O’Tooles.

If you see some people playing chess stop by and say hello. A group of us gather every Wednesday to play. We don’t take chess too seriously and welcome all levels, unless of course you are really good, our egos can’t take that kind of abuse.

From the Happy Lucky Communique:  Come celebrate BIG FAT WEDNESDAY, February 25, @ O’Toole’s with The Happy Lucky Combo. Special guests this week include Jarene Fleming and trumpeter Jonathan Greenberg.

As always we give Happy Lucky Combo two thumbs up and encourage all our readers to stop by O’Toole’s

Brick Weekly posted an article in January discussing the power of the drum in a band. The article then goes on to highlight 8 great drummers in Richmond.  At the top of the list is Pippin Barnett local Hills and Heights resident and member of The Happy Lucky Combo.

Richmond has spawned many great drummers over the years. Here are but some of them.

1. PIPPIN BARNETT: Pippin is the Art Blakey of Richmond and probably the most influential drummer the capital city has ever known. His forward moving approach to percussion is similar to the wide-open styles of Bill Bruford and Billy Higgins with 1970’s No Wave sensibilities. He is one of the few drummers that I have seen perform that plays his drums as a lead instrument without sounding smugly pretentious.
Suggested listening: The Orthotonics: “Luminous Bipeds” (Cuneiform Records)

The Happy Lucky Combo will be playing at O’Toole’s tonight at 8:00.

Hills and Heights received the good news earlier today that Happy Lucky Combo will be continuing their Wednesday night performances at O’Toole’s for the next two months. The music starts at 8. If you aren’t familiar with the group take a listen to one of their songs here.

If you are already a fan make sure and check out their blog Happy Lucky Commuique.